Representative Peter King, a New York Republican, is scheduled to hold at least one hearing on what he calls the “radicalization of Muslims in the United States.” The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, March 10, 2011.
Representative King, who has admitted many times that his views toward Muslim Americans changed radically after 9/11, is determined to use his powerful post as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee to hold this hearing.
With King’s frequent and vociferous railings about Muslim Americans, there is concern that one hearing can turn into many hearings, reminiscent of the McCarthy Hearings of 1950, which were held under the guise of finding and prosecuting the communist conspirators among us.
In a CNN interview, King proclaimed, “I have no choice. I have to hold these hearings. These hearings are absolutely essential. There are elements in that [Muslim] community that are being radicalized and I believe that the leadership, the leaders of that community, does not face up to that reality. Too many cases are not cooperative, not willing to speak out and condemn this type of radicalization that is going on.”
King admits that prior to 9/11, he had close relationships with Muslim leaders, but after 9/11, “a flip switched.” King says, “I saw the Muslim-American community not responding the way they should have, covering up for al Qaeda, when they tried to blame it on Jews or the FBI — I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. These people — I had [known] them for years, I had their relatives interning in my office, I had gone to weddings and dinners of leaders in the Muslim-American community — and the same people that I had known, I hear them saying it’s not al Qaeda, it’s the FBI. I couldn’t believe it.”
Presenting these thoughts, feelings, and anecdotal information as a rationale, as evidence to hold a Congressional hearing has raised serious concerns from colleagues, and Muslim leaders across the nation. Among those concerns, include:
- King has not invited any law enforcement officials to be witnesses at the hearing — neither the FBI director, the attorney general, nor any of the New York officials — whom he says tell him that Muslim leaders are not cooperating and they are concerned.
- King seems to ignore the fact that other law enforcement officials say they get valuable assistance from Muslim-Americans.
- King dismisses academic studies, like those conducted by Duke University and the University of North Carolina, that show fellow American-Muslims have turned in 48 of the 120 Muslims suspected of plotting terror attacks in the United States since 9/11.
Furthermore, Representative King’s statements and actions seem to implicate and accuse millions of American Muslims. King once stated that 80 percent to 85 percent of mosques in America were controlled by Islamic fundamentalists (radical imams) and amounted to “an enemy living amongst us.” He further stated that, “Unfortunately, we have too many mosques in this country.” He called on the FBI to begin surveillance and infiltration of mosques because they were producing “homegrown” terrorists.
Again, Rep. King’s conclusions seem to be contrary to the facts. A large scale national survey found that mosques and religiosity are associated with high levels of civic engagement and support for the American political system. View the complete results of the Muslim American Survey.
Islam seems to be becoming synonymous with terrorism and is emerging as a key issue on the political stage. Several other prominent public figures have weighed in on some issue such as the proposed building of the Islamic center near New York’s ground zero, or a call for a federal ban on Sharia, or Islamic law, etc.
The real question is, How do elected officials or law enforcement carry out an accurate, and fair inquiry, surveillance or other necessary measure to apprehend the few perpetrators without casting aspersions and condemning an entire racial or religious group?
What do you think of the impending hearing(s)?
Should such hearings be held? If so, for what reasons? And how should they be carried out?
Comments
Race
I can understand the fact that a person looks for a group to blame after a tragedy like the one that occurred on that September day.It's not morally or ethically appropriate, when people are scared they do things without thinking. But what I don't understand is how a man of power and knowledge, who we are supposed to look up to, can hold a hearing for the "Radicalization" of Muslims. They are people just like the rest of Americans. When a white male commits a crime, they are put into a prison where they serve there sentence. There are not hearings held for the "Radicalization" of the race. And the same method of thinking should be applied here. This country needs to strive for equality and a type of teamwork. Not turn us against each other.
The Radicalization of Muslims?
How about the radicalization of Americans? I mean I agree with Amico-2 on that when tragedy strikes people often jump to preposterous conclusions, and place blame on certain people for irrational reasons. But in order for things like thins to cease, there should be conferences on where the "radical ideas come from, and what the Islamic faith is truly about. People are so eager to listen to people that have radical ideas, and not actually see if what these people are saying is true. Instead of educating ourselves about the facts of a situation, we just want to hear exciting and very bold statements that attract our undivided attention. From what this article states, it does kind of remind me of the McCarthy trials, and that scares me to death.
Islamophobia
I feel like these hearings may be being held for the wrong reasons. King seems to be under the impression that all muslims are attempting to be uncooperative with the us government. But if you think about it, yes these people may have tried to blame the FBI and such for 9/11 but you also have to try and understand it from their point of view. The are muslim/arabic they may or may not know persons in al queda and even if they dont they are still apart of the same ethnic background and therefore will feel some sort of loyalty towards them and may try to protect them. I'm not saying they are in the right if that is what they are doing, but King should not allow his fear that they may be "harboring" information to hold such trials that seem to target not just the muslim leaders but all people of that background.
Justice
I feel that this article is both misrepresented and often misread. It is my understanding that King in no way views the entirety of our American-Muslim community to be nonconformists, but rather that the leadership of this group has not taken adequate steps to ensure that radicalization is not taking place. That many terror crimes are being reported by Muslim-Americans does NOT negate the existence of a radical trend. I do not believe that in attempting to prevent the radicalization of young Muslims we are in any way attempting to oppress or persecute the freedoms of millions of lawful Muslim-Americans. Having said that, I do believe it would be wise to include law enforcement officials in the meetings, as well as any other official who would like to attend. In these situations, truth and safety must be of paramount importance. If these trials deteriorate into any form of non-constructive accusations, then we will have reduced ourselves to the same level of those trying to harm us. In these trials, King must remain an advocate of justice and safety, of ALL Americans, not merely white protestants. We must protect the Muslim Community, the Jewish community, the Buddhist community, and the thousands not mentioned in this short response. Thank you.
If a small group of ill
If a small group of ill meaning white men set fire to or blew up a building, nobody would say that all white men were radical and needed surveillance. Why is this any different?
I think general hearings about the radicalization of Muslim Americans would be pointless. Doing so will cause people to become even more suspicious of Muslim Americans and to blame them with no reason or proof (Kinda does sound like the McCarthy trials). What will that do to the many innocent Muslim Americans? If there is proof that a specific Muslim American is doing something wrong, take care of it. Otherwise, there is no reason for a hearing.
Hearing on Muslims
I think King is going overboard with wanting to have a hearing to Radicalization of Muslim. It probably will go through but it will not prove anything. I don’t think it is fair to the Islamic people. Americans of all races have tried to commit terrorist acts here on our own land. Sounds like the Islamic people have cooperated with police when turning in other terrorist of their people. I think Muslim people are now going to be freighted by the target against them so it will make them blame the FBI. Maybe that’s the problem with America it uses the political fuel to put fear and tries to dominate the world. Muslim is not the only threat to this land. There is no real harm or violence issue here only to promote fear. The Muslims that he is speaking about are Americans too. We are now acting like some other countries that persecute Christians only thing is not killing the Muslim people. The Muslim people here hold their religion doesn’t mean they are involved with al-quada. Especially if they have helped in turning terrorist to officials.
Muslim Americans have the
Muslim Americans have the same rights as all other Americans. It sometimes doesn't seem this way with how they are being treated. These hearings are just another example of how closeminded we as Americans can be. It is almost natural for some people to look at a Muslim and think 9-11 but at the same time it is not right to form our opinions and actions based upon that alone.
Held for the Wrong Reasons
There are always two sides to every story, but the way this article portrays King, it seems like he is using these hearings to justify his Islamophobia. I have not done any outside research on the hearings so I’m just going off of what the article says. Yes, there are Middle Eastern people who are terrorists, but there are also terrorists of every other nationality! I hate that most Americans are so ignorant about the Islam religion, yet we tag it to every Middle Eastern person we see or terrorist we hear about. Islam is actually a very peaceful religion. The Qur’an preaches peace and love toward other human beings. The 9/11 terrorists may have claimed Islam, but I have spoken with a few Muslims who say that they could not have been dedicated Muslims or they wouldn’t have did what they did. This is like how I believe the preacher in Florida that burned the Qur’an was not acting in a Christian manner. Therefore, from what the article has said, I feel like these hearings are being held for irrelevant and wrong reasons.
Muslim Americans
King is crazy for what he wants to do I think. All of a sudden he wants to befriend the Muslim Americans he was close to because of a terrorist attack against the United States, I don't get why most Americans don't see the equal rights we all have together. Either you were born in the U.S. or you earned your citizenship nothing is going to be different. America doesn't see that terrorist attacks come from everywhere or in our country as well, they exclude us out of it and put the attention on the other countries. America is quick to judge Muslim Americans or any other, but they never look at themselves.